]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3545479/7-innovative-ways-to-find-scarce-it-talent.html
IDG Insider7 sure-fire ways to sour the business on analyticsTue, 19 May 2020 03:00:00 -0700John EdwardsJohn EdwardsData analytics is one of the most powerful resources enterprises have at their disposal. But the value of analytics can diminish significantly if the tools and process in use are not friendly and broadly available to the business users who need them.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3543868/7-sure-fire-ways-to-sour-the-business-on-analytics.html
IDG Insider7 ways to root out IT staff incompetenceTue, 05 May 2020 03:00:00 -0700John EdwardsJohn EdwardsEvery IT leader wants to run an organization that's renowned for its performance, precision and speed. Unfortunately, those noble goals can often be derailed by poor performers within the IT ranks. The sticky part is uncovering this often hidden issue and dealing with it without becoming every staff member's worst enemy.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3541232/7-ways-to-root-out-it-staff-incompetence.html
IDG Insider7 ways to optimize IT team productivity during difficult timesTue, 28 Apr 2020 03:00:00 -0700John EdwardsJohn EdwardsOptimizing IT team productivity is always a challenge, yet in today's extraordinary business environment ensuring that IT is meeting or exceeding defined goals is a very tall order indeed.

When there's a contagious disease outbreak, a natural disaster or any other type of widespread emergency, IT team members may be required to work from home or at some other safe location until normal business operations can resume.

Maintaining productivity and ensuring that essential IT services continue functioning uninterrupted throughout the emergency period can be challenging for both IT leaders and staff. Here are seven tips that can help you keep key operations and activities humming along even during the worst of times.

1. Get organized

Most IT work can be handled remotely as long as the tasks don't involve hands-on interactions with enterprise physical assets. "Design and planning meetings are still best done in person, but even these meetings can be done adequately from home with screen sharing and online whiteboard tools," says Joe Wilson, owner of Volare Systems, a Denver-based custom software development company with a largely remote staff.

Nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes — and limited IT budgets. Few IT leaders lose sleep over overfunding. Rather, sleepless nights wondering how to meet organizational aspirations when saddled with woefully underfunded budgets are more the norm. That anxiety can only escalate when a recession looms.

Even IT leaders managing relatively generous allotments are feeling the strain. Pat Phelan, a former Gartner analyst and current vice president of market research at enterprise software support firm Rimini Street, notes that IT departments are now under significant pressure to invest in digital transformation, leaving little room to maintain and update already established technologies and operations. "It's important for CIOs to evaluate their innovation and software spends carefully, weighing the specific needs of their companies," she advises.

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7 tips for vetting the business value of emerging techWed, 26 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0800John EdwardsJohn EdwardsThere's no shortage of promising new technologies. The challenge lies in pinpointing the specific tools that have the potential to bring real value to your organization by lowering costs, improving efficiency, providing deeper insights or opening the door to new business opportunities.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3528349/7-tips-for-vetting-the-business-value-of-emerging-tech.html
IDG Insider7 cloud cost management tipsTue, 04 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0800John EdwardsJohn EdwardsMany enterprises that once looked to the cloud as a way to curb data center expenditures are now beginning to wonder why they're not saving as much money as they expected.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3518781/7-cloud-cost-management-tips.html
IDG Insider7 traits of successful enterprise architectsMon, 20 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0800John EdwardsJohn EdwardsWith digital transformation challenging businesses worldwide, a growing number of companies are placing their future into the hands of an enterprise architect, someone who can take disruption and turn it into a competitive advantage. With a CIO's guidance, the enterprise architect can develop a systems architecture and technology evolution plan that will support and advance the enterprise's business strategy for years to come.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3514530/7-traits-of-successful-enterprise-architects.html
IDG Insider8 tips for reducing technical debt (without killing operations)Wed, 08 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0800John EdwardsJohn EdwardsCompleting an IT software project quickly without incurring some level of technical debt is challenging. When a project is developed and deployed in a rush, quality often suffers and the venture must inevitably be revisited to repair compatibility problems, security gaps, performance issues and various other budget-draining headaches.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3512658/8-tips-for-reducing-technical-debt-without-killing-operations.html
IDG Insider7 questions CIOs should ask before taking a new jobWed, 18 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0800John EdwardsJohn EdwardsIT leaders seeking a new job must be prepared to answer plenty of questions on various technology, business and personal topics. Yet before any employment meeting ends, it's always a good idea to toss a few decisive questions back to the interviewer. After all, as the potential employer seeks to ensure that you'll be able to perform professionally and productively, you'll be risking nothing less than your reputation and future career path on commitments made during the interview.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3489796/7-questions-cios-should-ask-before-taking-a-new-job.html
IDG Insider7 ways to position IT for success in 2020Mon, 09 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0800John EdwardsJohn EdwardsForget about New Year's resolutions, which tend to be tossed aside and forgotten as soon as the champagne loses it sparkle. For IT leaders, the new year is a prime time for planning, organizing and launching new strategies and initiatives. Evolving business trends, security issues and increasing government oversight of many IT activities, combined with a seemingly never-ending series of disruptive technologies, make it essential to begin thinking about tactics and goals as soon as possible for a successful 2020.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3487725/7-ways-to-position-it-for-success-in-2020.html
IDG InsiderIT burnout: 7 ways to spot and help overwhelmed staffTue, 12 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0800John EdwardsJohn EdwardsThe warning light is flashing brightly and rapidly. A team member who has always completed tasks flawlessly and on time is now consistently falling behind on work. Even more troubling is the fact that the staffer appears to be oblivious to the problem.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3452598/7-ways-to-spot-and-help-overwhelmed-it-staffers.html
IDG Insider7 steps to turning around an inherited IT departmentWed, 23 Oct 2019 03:00:00 -0700John EdwardsJohn EdwardsIt may be the toughest job in IT — and perhaps the most rewarding. Taking on a troubled IT department isn't a job for the faint of heart. Repairing damage and putting things back in order will require a great deal of time and effort. If you succeed, you'll be lauded as a hero. If you fail, your washout could haunt your career for years to come.

]]>(Insider Story)https://www.cio.com/article/3446858/7-steps-to-turning-around-an-inherited-it-department.html
IDG Insider7 steps to stealth self-promotion and career advancementWed, 02 Oct 2019 03:00:00 -0700John EdwardsJohn EdwardsIn today's IT world, hard work, reliability and productivity are no longer enough to ensure long-term career success. Few of today's top leaders were able to make a name for themselves — or boost their position and compensation — by working quietly and diligently behind a desk. Like it or not, getting noticed and applauded by colleagues and industry kingpins now plays a major role in moving up the career ladder.